India is getting ready to build a 500 MW thermal power plant in Sri Lanka, S. Jaishankar, the Foreign Secretary announced recently.

"We are waiting for the environmental clearance to come through," the Foreign Secretary said while briefing newspersons on the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sri Lanka. Jaishankar said that apart from looking to start projects on the energy side in Sri Lanka, India is also keen to expand the people to people contact between the two countries.

During the visit Modi will not only meet with the President and Prime Minister, but also leaders of various political parties. The Indian Prime Minister will also meet with the former President, Chandrika Kumaratunga. Modi will also address the Sri Lankan Parliament apart from paying homage to the Indian Peace Keeping Forces.

Modi will also be visiting Jaffna, Tailamanar and Anuradhapura during the visit.

Modi will be in Sri Lanka on March 13 and 14. This will be the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka after 38 years. Rajiv Gandhi last visited Sri Lanka in 1987.

Outlining the significance of the visit, Jaishankar that Modi's visit will be the fourth high level visit of the leaders of both countries and comes after the Sri Lankan President and Sri Lankan Foreign Minister . Sushma Swaraj, the External Affairs Minister was in Sri Lanka last week.